Tuesday, May 8, 2007, Honolulu, Hawai'i~

Dear Louisiana Mayrah Sandusky in Tennessee~

Aloha! Thank you for your informative, newsy, warm letter; it was nice to hear from you!

I got the books from a friend of mine in Georgia. She writes to you (she lives in Smyrna; her name is Donna Oliver), and she was the one who sent me the books; she thought I would enjoy them. She was right: I did enjoy them, very much. How you can parent that many children is something that boggles the mind; I can't imagine parenting that many! WOW!

Thanks for the e-mail addys of Adoptive Families Magazine and www.adopting.com.  I do plan on checking them out when I can get the chance. Right now the kids keep me hopping; and with teaching them at home, my free time right now is severely limited. I get most of my writing done when they are in bed or on the weekends, before they get up. (I get up at three/four most mornings; I have always been an earlybird. :) )

Thanks for explaining in detail about your family, what you have gone through. I am sorry you lost your three (birth) children; that had to have been so hard! I can't imagine losing your child; that would be terrible! I dread whenever my kids get sick; they get as much as a cold, and I am a worrywart; I am always imagining the worst is going to happen! That must be terrible to spend a lot of your times in a hospital waiting room or by a suffering child's bedside as they lie unconscious or hooked up to tubes in the ICU! How do you keep your sanity during these times??

How do you keep your sanity when dealing with elderly parents? Are they both ill? Do they have Alzheimers or are severely impaired? I pray and hope not; I have a friend here in Hawai'i who has a mother with Alzheimers, and she is the sole caregiver. She has three kids, all under the age of ten; between caring for them, and caring for her sick mother, I'm worried she is going to work herself to the grave! Her mother is severely impaired; she doesn't know anyone or where she is at (let alone, what is happening to her), and she has a habit of wandering off at night. There's been a few times where she's turned up missing, and poor Grace has had to call the police to look for her. It's awful! I'm so scared that Grace's mother is going to end up dead!

I just thank God my parents are both well. They are in their seventies now, but both are active, still exercise, still get around (reasonably) well. My father does walk with a cane (he had a slight stroke), but he is otherwise in good health. The cane hasn't stopped him, and if anyone tries to bother him, he can just give 'em a good whack with his stick! LOL I bet he'd do it, too! LOL He's a stubborn old coot! LOL

My kids are acting all secretive; I bet it has something to do with Mother's Day approaching. Hmm. I wonder what they are cookin' up? I hope it's something spectacular; I can get used to a good spoiling on a day like Mother's Day! :) What are you doing for Mother's Day? Are your kids (and hubby) doing anything special? Are you going out or shopping? In any event, I pray and hope you have a most beautfiul Mother's Day; with sixty kids, you DESERVE a break today (as they say on that old McDonald's commercial)! :)

How is the weather there? Have you been getting any of the severe storms that have been rocking the plains? I pray and hope not; if you are, I pray the Good Lord is keeping you all safe! Gosh, what crazy weather we've been having here in America this year; scary to think about! WOW! Here it is partly sunny out, with temps in the 70's, with lush breezes blowing from the ocean; really spectacular weather! Such a blessing to live in Paradise; you should consider moving here; we'd welcome you with open arms (full of leis, of course!). :)

Also, if you don't like bees or wasps, we have very few of those here. With your children that are allergic, it would be a perfect place for them! That way, they don't have to worry!

Next time you take a cruise, you should really consider coming to Hawai'i. (Hint, Hint. LOL) That way, if you stop on the Big Island, where we are, we'd come to meet you; we'd love to entertain you, even if it were only for a few hours. I would love to meet you face to face; I already feel like I am getting to know you better through your letters! You seem like a very nice, caring person; and so does your husband, Bill!

Well, I am going to go now; Devereaux is crying again; wonder what he is up to, the little angel...LOL Will write in here again; do write back soon! I will be waiting for your next letter! Until next time, Aloha; until we meet again...

(((HUGS))) and love, your new Island friend in Paradise, Theresa Aine. :)